Drum pedal



Aug. I3, 1948. M. E. cRo'wELL DRUM PEDAL Filed May 17, 1945 v 'wmf/M Patented Aug. 3, 1948 DRUM PEDAL Milton E. Crowell, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to H. & A. Selmer, Inc., Elkhart, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application May 17, 1945, Serial No. 594,306

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a drum pedal, and particularly to a pedal actuated device for operating a drum beater.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device having a beater, an operating pedal, and a tensioning spring wherein the relationship of beater to the operating pedal is adjustable to regulate the stroke of the pedal required to actuate the beater without varying the tension of the spring.

A further object is to-provide a drum pedal with a novel and simple clamp for securely gripping the counter hoop of a drum without danger of slipping or of marring the hoop.

A further object is to provide a device of this character constructed to prevent slipping of the foot of the operator on the pedal into engagement with the tension spring and other operating parts of the device,

A further object is to provide a device of this character which is balanced throughout to equalize the load on the post bearings, to prevent side binding action, to centrally apply the tension of the spring, and to produce a smooth, easy action.

A further object is to provide a device of this character wherein the relationship between the beater arm and operating pedal is adjustable, with simple means for quickly, easily and conveniently adjusting said relationship.

A further object is to provide a drum pedal with means for rapidly and easily connecting and disconnecting the footboard from the mechanism operated thereby.

A further object is to provide a device of this character, with novel means for connecting the tensioninng spring between the means for clamping the device to a drum and the beater actuating mechanism.

Other objects will be apparent from the description, drawing and appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the device.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end View of the 'device with parts shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail View illustrating the adjusting means.

Referring to the drawing, which illlustrates one embodiment of the invention, the numeral I designates the base of a pedal stand from whose opposite sides project a pair of integral vertical posts I I. A pair of laterally spaced clamp plates I2 are formed integrally with and project from the front of the base at opposite sides thereof. Plates I2 have laterally inwardly inclined upper surfaces I3 on which rubber pads ill are secured. A transverse lug I5 is formed integrally with and projects from the upper portion of the base adjacent the front thereof and centrally between the sides thereof. An elongated toe clamp IB is pivoted at II intermedaite its ends to the lug I 5. The toe clamp is spaced above the base I3 and the bottom face of the iront projecting portion I8 thereof is transversely arcuate and has a rubber pad I9 applied thereto. The rear portion 2i) of the toe clamp has a central tapped opening 'l0 receiving a thumb screw 2| Whose lower end bears upon the base it. The pads I4 are adapted to engage the bottom of the outer face of the counter hoop 22 oi a base drum, and the pad I9 bears against the inner face of said hoop. The toe clamp is urge-d to clamping engagement With the hoop by the thumb nut 2I. The pads provide a non-slip grip on the drum hoop 22 wtihout requiring the application of pressure sufficient to deform the hoop. They also guard against marring of the hoop.

A cross shaft 23 is journaled at its opposite ends in bearings 25 carried by the upper ends of posts II, and is sceured against endwise play by end caps 25 secured to the shaft by screws 26. A beater arm mount 2l is secured to shaft 23 centrally thereof. The mount 2l comprises a sleeve fitting snugly and rotatably upon the shaft and provided with a radial lug 28 having a screw threaded aperture 29. A lug 30 projects upwardly from mount 21 and has a normally inclined r bore therethrough perpendicular to shaft 23 in which the elongated stem 3I of a beater 32 iits slidably. A screw threaded opening extending at an angle to and communicating with the stern receiving bore of lug `3l) receives a set screw 33 for clamping the stem 3l in selected position in the lug.

A pair of spaced ears 34 project downwardly from mounting 21, and a link 35 is pivoted therebetween at 36. One end of an elongated coil spring 31 is hooked in an aperture in the free end of link 35. The lower end of spring 3l is hooked to a clevis 38 mounted on a screw 3S which is pivoted at 40 between a pair of upstandn ing lugs lIII upon the toe clamp I3. A nut d2 threaded on screw 39 ts within the clevis to adjust the tension upon the spring 31.

A lever of U-shape having a pair of elongated arms 43 and a cross piece 4'4 of arcuate cross section is provided with opposed openings in arms 43 by which it is journaled upon shaft 23 concentric with the cross sectional curvature of cross piece 44 and adjacent thereto. Cross piece 44 has a transversely elongated aperture l5 therein. A cylindrical cam member d6 fits rotatably Within the aperture 45, Without play transverse of the aperture, and it bears against the end of lug 28 of mounting 2l. A thumb screw il is threaded in bore 29 of lug Eil and passes eccentrically through member it and serves to clamp it in selected rotative position. A :nger piece 4S projects from member 156 to accommodate adjustment of its rotative position when the set screw is loosened.

A trunnion 49 is secured between the free outer end of lever arms i3 and journals one end of each of a pair of links Eil in spaced relation. The opposite ends of links 5d are pivotally connected atv 5l to spaced 4parallel ears 52 of a bracket The bracket 53 includes a plate 5d extending perpendicularly between the ears Plate ed has a pair of spaced key-hole shaped openings (not shown) therein, An elongated rigid foot board 55 having rubber sole and heel pads E@ and an upturned toe piece at its front end is provided at its iront end with a pair of spaced depending screws having enlarged heads di which fit removably in and interlock with the key-hole slots in bracket plate 5d. The opposite end of the foot board has a depending transverse lug Eil which is pivoted at 59V to the parallel vertical anges Bil of a U-shaped heel base ti. A pair oi elongated spring steel links t2 are rigidly secured at one end thereof to the opposite flanges Sil of heel base 6I to project forwardly therefrom in spaced parallel relation. Pins 63s project laterally outwardly from the forward ends oi the links 952 and t snugly but removably in apertures till formed in a pair of laterally spaced lugs projecting from the rear end of base plate it,

The device is adapted to be shipped and stored in disassembled condition, and is readily assembled 'and disassembled, Thus, assuming the device is assembled, it is disassembled by simply releasing the connection between the foot board and bracket 53 and the connections between links 52 and lugs 55 of base lil, Likewise, 'the beater stem 3l may be disconnected from mounting l. Consequently. the device requires only a small amount 0f storage space and can be shipped in a small package. VAnother important feature is that the disassembly does not require disconnection ofthe tension spring 3l'.

Another important advantage oi the device is that it canbe adjusted to control the stroke of. the lfoot board to suit the convenience of the operator Without altering the tension of the spring 31. This is accomplished by releasing the thumb screw 4l and adjusting the rotative position of the cam cylinder 46 by` means of nger piece Ill-ii. This cam adjustment serves to change the angular position of the lever arm i213, i. e., to raise or lower the freetrunnion-njiounting ends of the arms, and results in increasing or decreasing of the angle of the'footboard relation to the horizontal. A substantial range of adjustment is provided, and the adjustment can be made and set at any point within that range by simply retightening thumb screw MI while the cam cylinder is held in selectedadjustment or position.

yOther features of the device are also believed Worthy of particular notice. One of these is the balanced construction provided by the use of a U-shaped lever 43 and the dual links ed. These make it possible to' arrange the tension spring and then beater centrally of the device so that all stresses are transversely balanced, no tendency toward binding or side motion occurs, and the various moving parts have adequate clearance in operation. Another advantage is the toe flange 56 which prevents the operators foot from sliding forwardly on the foot board and into engagement with the tension spring or other moving parts. It will also be noted that the connection of the spring between the toe clamp I6 and the beater mount 2T permits it to serve the dual functions of holding the hoop clamp open as said clamp is released and of controlling the beater arm for quick return movement after each drum engaging operation of the beater.

1. A drum pedal comprising a standard having a rotatable` cross bar, a beater-mount carried by said bar, a lever pivoted on said bar, adjustable means carried by said mount for positioning said lever, means clamping said adjustable means in selected position, and actuating means connected to said lever and including 'a pivoted foot board.

2. A drum .pedal comprising a standard having a rotatable cross. bar, a beater' carrier mounted on said bar, a lever pivoted on said bar.. and having a cross-piece substantially parallel to said bar, means connecting` said cross-.piece and carrier in selected angularrelation including a member shiftably carried by one of and in engagement with the other of said lever andfcarrier means for locking said member in selected position, actuating means connected to saidlever and including a pivoted foot board, andv a beatercontrolling spring connected tosaid carrierand said standard.

3. A drum pedal as defined in claim 2, wherein said shiftable connecting member'is al rotatable eccentric.'

4. A drum pedal as deiined in claim 2r, wherein said cross-piece has an elongated opening therein and said 'shiftable connecting member' constitutes a cam' rotatably mounted on said carrier and fitting in said opening.

5. A drum pedal Vcomprising a standard, a cross bar journaled in said standard, a .beater carrier mounted on said bar, spring means for controlling the position of'sad carrier, alever journaled on said bar and having a slotted portion substantially parallel to DsaidY bar and adjacent to said carrier, a cylindricalmemberiitting in 'said slot, a journal adjustably mounted on said carrier for eccentrically rotatably mounting said cylindrical member and for clamping the same vin selected rotative position, and foot actuated means for operating said lever.

6 A drum Pedal ,Campesina a standards Cross bar journaled in said standard, a beater Vcarrier mounted on said bar, spring means' for controlling the position of said carrier, a lever'journaled on said bar and having a slotted portion substantially .parallelto said bar andjadjacent to said carrier, a cylinder fitting in said slotl and having an eccentric bore,'a set screw adjustably carried by said carrier and extending freely through Said bora Said Seti Screw' belles 'adapted to clamp said cylinder in selected vrotative position, and foot actuated means for operatingsaid lever.

7. A drum pedal comprising a standard, a cross bar journaled in' said'standarma' beater carrier mounted, centrally on said bar',` aI rigid lll-.shaped lever, Stiaddlinssaid carrier andhavin a cross piece and a pair oi sparedv arms' iournaled on said bar'adjacent said cross piece, eccentric means adjustable on said carrier and engaging saidicross carrier and lever, a pair of links pivoted to the free ends of said lever arms, foot operated actuating means connected to said .links and including a pivoted foot board, and a tension spring connecting said standard and said carrier and extending freely between said links.

8. A drum pedal comprising a standard, a cross bar journaled in said standard, a beater carrier mounted centrally on said bar, a rigid U-shaped lever straddling said carrier and having a cross piece and a pair of spaced arms j ournaled on said bar adjacent said cross piece eccentric means adjustable on said carrier and engaging said cross piece to control the angular relation of said carrier and lever, a pair of links pivoted to the free ends of said lever arms, foot operated actuating means connected to said links and including a pivoted foot board, and a tension spring connecting said standard and said carrier and extending freely between said links, said foot board having an upturned toe flange.

9. A drum pedal comprising a standard, means for clamping said standard to a drum hoop, a spring urged beater unit pivoted to said standard 6 and including a lever, a link pivoted to said lever, a bracket pivoted to said link, a heel base, a foot board pivoted to said base and detachably secured to said bracket at its free end, and a pair of spaced elongated springs each xedly secured at one end to said base and having a lateral projection at its opposite end, said standard having spaced apertured projections receiving said spring projections.

AMILTON E. CROWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le o this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,016,510 Meyer Feb. 6, 1912 1,186,189 Hendrickson June 6, 1916 1,360,031 Scheulei et al NOV. 23, 1920 1,804,128 Stripe May 25, 1931 1,909,761 Greenleaf May 16, 1933 2,027,869 La Londe Jan. 14, 1936 2,132,211 Huesckstead Oct. 4, 1938 

